Summer Dowra
Hadramaut, Yemen
The Prophet ﷺ prayed, “O Allah, bless us in our Yemen.” There is no doubt that his prayer was answered and these blessings remain for all time.
THE CITY
Tarim is the religious and spiritual capital of Hadramaut. Its establishment dates back to at least a century before the Common Era and it is named after its founder, Tarim. Its people accepted Islam in the time of the Prophet ﷺ and remained firm after his passing, when some tribes in the region waivered. They pledged allegiance to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) as soon as he was instated Khalifah. He subsequently made three supplications for the city and its people. He asked that the city:
- Remain inhabited until the Day of Judgement
- Be blessed with abundant water supplies
- Be blessed with abundant pious people
For this reason, the city is sometimes known as Madinat al-Siddiq, ‘The City of al-Siddiq.’
Since members of the blessed Prophetic household settled in Hadramaut in the fourth century of the Hijrah, it has been a centre of sacred knowledge and the attainment of spiritual perfection. For that reason, it has been said that while the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was from Makkah to Madinah, the migration of his progeny was to the Valley of Hadramaut.
Dar al-Mustafa
& Dar al-Zahra
- Seeking sacred knowledge (`Ilm)
- Spiritual wayfaring (Suluk)
- Calling to Allah (Da`wah)
40 Days
The Dowra takes place over 40 days. This time period has special properties, which are mentioned both in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. In addition, if someone is consistent in doing something for this period, it is likely to become a firm habit. We pray you can continue to implement what you habituate during your Dowra experience.
GOALS
To increase in knowledge of Allah and certitude
To purify the lower self and attain noble character traits
To honour the covenant with Allah and to seek to benefit His slaves
What makes a dowra successful?
The Dowra is a spiritual journey. Students will be immersed in a totally different world at all levels. To gain the utmost benefit, students need to be prepared to let go of their habits and routines and be open to new experiences. Being flexible and easy going will immensely enhance your experience in Tarim.
TEACHERS
Dowra students will be graced with the opportunity to sit in circles of knowledge with some of the greatest scholars of our time. These are some of the core teachers who have taught on previous Dowras. Their participation each year is subject to confirmation:
- Habib ‘Umar bin Hafiz
- Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf
- Habib Ali bin Abu Bakr
- Shaykh ‘Umar Husayn al-Khatib
SUBJECTS
The Dowra curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad cross-section of knowledge streams in order that they may benefit from multiple sources. In accordance with the principles of ‘ilm, suluk and da’wah, students will study the following either in English or via Arabic-English translation:
Fiqh (Hanafi/Shafi’i/Maliki)
Da’wah methodology
Spiritual wayfaring
Prophetic etiquette
Contemporary issues
Prophetic biography
Course texts will be confirmed on arrival.
ACTIVITIES
Activities that have been organised in previous years include, but are not limited to:
Visiting Scholars
One of the founding principles of Islam is love and attachment to the pious. This program will include an opportunity to see and meet some of the scholars of Tarim.
Visiting Sacred Sites & Mosques
Pray in the same spot where great Imams have prayed in Masjid Ba’Alawi, a mosque that is over 900 years old.
Visiting Sacred Sites & Mosques
Pray in the same spot where great Imams have prayed in Masjid Ba’Alawi, a mosque that is over 900 years old.
Visiting the Prophet Hud (peace be upon him)
There are also opportunities for informal gatherings with light refreshments, anasheeds, and discussions within the Dowra house.
Source: TheDowra
Join Summer Dowra 2023
Register for the 29th Summer Dowra in Tarim